The last bit of information Inspector Witherspoon had about where Arflin might be was the murder of the lady and a man near Tequendama Falls, near Bogota, Columbia. When police found the body of Cat Lady they sent divers into the river where they recovered the large hunting knife. William Arflin's fingerprints were all over the knife. It didn't take them long before they discovered the jeep he had been driving and the man he murdered for his pick up truck. Police knew he could be anywhere in the world, but felt he was still in South America somewhere.

When the waitress came to Inspector Witherspoon's table to take his order, he asked for a cup of coffee and two pieces of whole-wheat toast. He did not want to take a chance on ordering a big breakfast and let Arflin slip away again. He decided to wait until Arflin left the restaurant and follow him at a safe distance. When he found out where Arflin was staying he could notify the local police and they could take him into custody. Inspector Witherspoon knew he had no authority in Puerto Rico and would cooperate with the police.

The waitress brought Arflin's breakfast to him. Five minutes later Inspector Witherspoon's toast arrived. Inspector Witherspoon slowly munched on his toast as he waited for Arflin to finish his breakfast. When Arflin finished eating he got up and headed for the cashier to pay his tab. As his eyes met Inspector Witherspoon's eye he gave him a friendly nod. Inspector Witherspoon smiled and nodded back. Now Inspector Witherspoon felt certain Arflin had no clue as to whom he was. Until about an hour ago Arflin didn't even know where he was. The storm that busted the compass must have really blown him a lot farther off course than he imagined.

Arflin paid his tab while Inspector Witherspoon waited patiently behind him for his turn. Arflin returned to his table and left a tip. He walked out the door just ahead of Inspector Witherspoon.

Arflin needed to return to his boat to get some currency to convert into American dollars. He would need to go to a bank and get that taken care of. He walked back to his boat with Inspector Witherspoon following about a half a block behind. The Inspector watched as Arflin got on his sailboat and went below. Just then a policeman came by. Inspector Witherspoon showed him his credentials and told him whom he had followed back to the boat. The officer called for back up.

As they stood on the dock waiting for help to arrive Arflin came back on deck. He saw the police officer standing beside the man he saw in the restaurant and quickly went below again. The officer saw Arflin and remained calm. Arflin wasn't sure if they were there for him or not. Maybe it was just a coincidence the officer was talking to the man. For the first time since he escaped from prison, Arflin felt trapped. There was no other way out of the boat except through the hatch he came in. He had one shotgun and a box of shotgun shells, but that was no match for a police force if indeed he had been recognized. All he could do now was wait and see. He could hear sirens in the background. As they grew louder he knew it was he they were after. He intended to make good his threat never to be taken alive.




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